The Brooklyn Nets have relieved Jacque Vaughn of his coaching duties and appointed Kevin Ollie as the interim head coach. For avid followers of college basketball, Ollie’s return to the coaching scene presents a significant opportunity, potentially paving the way for a permanent role if he does well in a coveted NBA job.
College Basketball
Ollie’s credentials place him in an exclusive category, having secured a national championship during his tenure in college basketball. While inheriting a formidable team under Jim Calhoun, Ollie’s contributions as a key assistant were instrumental in helping orchestrating their success, culminating in a championship victory as a top assistant to Calhoun and then his own championship as a head coach just two seasons after Calhoun’s retirement.
It’s not often remembered but the Huskies were ineligible for post season in the season in between because of low APR scores. He navigated keeping the players happy and at UConn despite not being able to go to postseason.
Firing
Regrettably, his collegiate coaching career concluded on a sour note, marred by two disappointing seasons in which UConn had losing records. Following an NCAA investigation, Kevin Ollie was issued a three-year show-cause order due to violations that spanned a four-year period, concluding in 2017. He faced charges of “failure to monitor” his program and failure to cultivate an atmosphere of compliance. Ollie was specifically charged with three Level I violations, including the misclassification of summer pick-up games as allowable team activities, impermissible coaching instruction by a video coordinator, and a booster providing unauthorized benefits to student-athletes. These additional benefits, furnished by a private trainer, encompassed training sessions, accommodations, meals, and local transportation.
NBA
Transitioning to the NBA, where the necessity for underhanded tactics isn’t a thing should work out much better for Ollie. He’s exhibited considerable coaching acumen in college but his extensive 13-year tenure as a player in the NBA should sever him well in this job. Characterized by his journeyman status across 12 different franchises, has endowed him with invaluable experience under an array of esteemed coaches such as Larry Brown, George Karl, and Donnie Nelson, and alongside some great players. This exposure has undoubtedly honed his ability to navigate the intricacies of NBA locker rooms, offering insights gleaned from his interactions with seasoned veterans and emerging talents alike. In his latter years as a player, Ollie’s role likely transcended the court, assuming the mantle of mentorship for burgeoning stars like Russell Westbrook.
Conclusion
It’s certainly intriguing to contemplate Kevin Ollie’s potential impact on the struggling Brooklyn team. With their future draft picks largely owed to Houston, there’s little motivation for the Nets to deliberately underperform. The roster predominantly comprises players in their peak years, hovering around the age of 27. This juncture presents a crucial opportunity for Ollie to harness the collective talent and guide the team toward resurgence, despite their recent setbacks. If nothing else this is one step closer for Ollie to get back to the college game if this doesn’t work out. Adding NBA interim head coach to the resume would help in recruiting and his show of cause was up in 2022.
